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On a cold but sunny day (no wind) thirteen of us gathered on the Great Ocean Road and commenced walking up Packhorse Track.

Trees seen were mainly Iron Barks but dotted in between were the Blue-gums Eucalyptus globulus. The subspecies are distinguishable by their buds and fruits. Ellinor was the plant/tree/fungi person for the day.

Mary holding Blue-gum stalk

Mary holding Blue-gum stalk – all photos courtesy of Ellinor Campbell

We could hear the distinctive sound of the Crescent Honeyeaters call  “Egypppt”  high in the trees, feeding on the few remaining flowering gums.  Big Hill Track was muddy after the recent rains and slippery.  Where we could we walked on the grassy sides of the track.

Big Hill Track

Big Hill Track

We veered off the track and had morning tea on a ridge in the sunshine, overlooking great views and we could hear running water in the valley, and guessed it was probably Grassy Creek.

Morning tea with a view!

Morning tea with a view!

We continued climbing up Big Hill Track until we came to the junction of Reedy Creek Track.

Group photo

Group photo

Down Reedy Creek Track

Down Reedy Creek Track

Lunch on logs

Lunch on logs

This track  took us back to the coast and it was here we came upon three interesting fungi – the Flame, which was growing out of leaf litter and looked like pieces of red ribbon; the spectacular Purple Splash Polypore, which was growing on an old tree branch on the ground; and a Punk, which was lying at the foot of a large tree.

Flame fungus

Flame fungus

Purple Splash Polypore

Purple Splash Polypore

Punk

Punk

Punk up close

Punk up close

At the end of Reedy Creek Track, we turned onto the Transmission track and headed towards the coast, where our cars were parked.

walking

It was a great day and the weather was kind to us.

Cheryl West Lau